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The Bay Area Freeway Service Patrol, a roving tow truck service that scours local freeways in search of stranded motorists and dangerous debris, is expanding its coverage area and hours of operation. 

The gradual increases will add 50 new miles of coverage to the current 394-mile regionwide network and boost the number of hours patrolled by almost 20 percent. In addition, six more trucks will be put out on the roads, bringing the total to 74. 

In Alameda County, a second truck and three more miles will be added July 15 to the coverage area along Interstate Highway 580 between Castro Valley and Pleasanton. 

"By quickly clearing accidents, stalls and debris in this congested corridor, the FSP can help commuters get to work and back safely and expeditiously,'' said Alameda County Supervisor Scott Haggerty. 

In addition, both morning and evening hours of operation have been extended on Interstate Highway 880 and state Route 84 in Alameda County between Union City and Newark, and will be extended in Contra Costa County on state Route 4 between Martinez and Antioch and on state Route 242 in Concord as of July 15. 

The morning shift in Alameda County now runs from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. The evening shift will run from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. in Alameda County .